From the Publisher...
Reading the Book
The Bible is a great piece of English literature,
say many who read the beautiful Shakespearean cadences of the King James Version
of 1611. I recall one devoted teacher of English literature drawing my attention
to the wonderful use of language in a passage in James 3 on the problems wrought
by the human tongue.
It's commendable to appreciate fine literature, but when it comes to real knowledge
of the Bible beyond a superficial grasp of its content, little can be said for most
people in the Western world. Yet we claim this book as a foundation of our Western
heritage. In the United States, thought by many to be an unusually religious nation,
surveys reveal a lack of some of the most basic biblical knowledge, even among those
who lay claim to the name "Christian."
It has been said that only four of 10 churchgoers can identify the man who betrayed
Jesus Christ, and that many cannot list the first four books of the New Testament.
In Europe lies an area known as "the North German plain of irreligion," stretching
from Germany through Scandinavia. There the Book of books attracts little serious
attention in everyday life, yet that is the Europe tourists flock to in appreciation
of magnificent cathedrals , churches and religious art.
Is the Bible itself destined to become no more than a mildly interesting religious
artifact, like the buildings and paintings of a bygone age? Does it hold any relevance
in a postmodern world? Some would say yes, citing the United States as an example
of commitment to biblical values.
A few years ago I interviewed a man whose name is synonymous with surveys, George
Gallup. We discussed the state of religious belief in the United States. I asked
whether it was true that America is a religious country.
He said, in effect, that it depends on how you ask the question. If you're asking
about religious affiliation, 98 percent will fill in the blank with the name of a
denomination. Dig a little deeper and ask about regular church attendance, and you
are down to 42 percent. But, when it comes to whether a person's everyday actions
are affected by his religious convictions, we are dealing with less than 10 percent
of the population.
It was an enlightening finding about an ostensibly religious nation. Perhaps it
says something, not just about the state of knowledge, but about Americans' understanding.
The Bible makes extraordinary claims about its authorship and its value to humanity.
For example, the apostle Paul wrote to his fellow laborer Timothy that "all Scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Here are words that bear careful examination. The assertion is that Scripture
contains words inspired by God Himself. Further, this passage claims that the Hebrew
Bible, of which Paul was speaking at the time, was good for discovering truth, improving
life and building character, and imparting knowledge of the right way to live. The
Bible provides the man or woman who would seek God the platform from which to serve
Him and humanity. We celebrate the lives of those who give of themselves to serve
others. Certainly we should be thankful for their service and example. But should
such good works be so remarkable? The Bible teaches us that they are our duty.
This issue of The Good News is focused in part on the Word of God as our
guide to life. In a world adrift from its moral moorings, lost in a sea of relativism,
it is vital that we discover the safe harbor of God's Word. GN
-- David Hulme
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